A Present for Me!
I purchased this little number yesterday……..
A big splurge indeed, and now I have to learn how to use it to its full potential. Yes, that is Gaffer tape spoiling its beauty – purely a protective measure to prevent marks or bumps as I get used to its larger size and weight. Watch this space for some results!
Texture Tuesday – Also late!
Taken this morning……it’s Autumn here now and weather is getting colder. Still some roses about, but this gorgeous one was the only one on that bush. Sorry – can’t recall it’s name.
Processed with KK’s textures Isobel (86%) and Blue Bayou (50%), both at Soft Light with textures removed from the rose.
Texture Tuesday – Free and Easy Edition…..a bit late
A bit late this week, things have been hectic and even this was done in a hurry! Textured with one of KK’s Magic textures at reduced opacity and Edith from the Downton Collection. Hope you like it.
My apologies to those whose comments have recently gone unacknowledged…..they are very much appreciated and I am sorry for so doing, but there has not been much computer time in the last week or so. I shall endeavour to be better in future.
Disabled Bird
I came across this little Ladybird yesterday, but was sad to see on closer inspection that it had been damaged somehow, its wing cases had holes in them, pecked by a bird perhaps? It could not fly, and I was surprised it was still even alive. Anyhow, some macro shots and a close up of her face – not the prettiest one could imagine!
Backyard Birds Revisited
These were all taken around home where the birds are getting busy to mate and nest. The first shot is of two male Crimson Rosellas that were bickering over a female, who was ignoring them and eating seed on the ground – sensible lady! I’m delighted that I have seen two Eastern Yellow Robins in the garden which hopefully will mean there might be more around next year. I have also seen a pair of Flame Robins, but unfortunately I did not have the camera ready. I hope they fly by again soon.
A Little Blog Break
I shall not be posting much over the next couple of weeks as I shall be traveling and away from my own computer.
Once back, normal posts will resume, so please be patient. All the best to my regular followers.
Another Early Morning
Today I went to visit a friend of mine, again before sunrise and I was not surprised to find she was still in bed…..It was to take photos of her beautiful lake in the early morning light.
It is a constantly changing scene just outside her windows and it is not difficult to just sit and watch it all happen. These will give you some idea of what it was like.
Amanita Muscaria
Autumn is the season for fungi, and this garden is full of the usual ones, Saffron Milkcaps which are edible, though I don’t eat them, many ones for which I have no name, and the hallucinogenic Amanita muscaria or Fly Agaric Toadstools…..the stuff of fairy tales. This year they do not seem to be as many of them, and their colour is not so rich as usual. None the less, they are very photogenic and I have spent some time getting down and dirty to take these shots. I think they are still intriguing when they begin to fade and die, turning odd shapes, splitting and showing signs of being nibbled by slugs. I wonder if the slugs experience hallucinations….??
These are also being published for the Weekly Top Shot
Odds and Ends
Just a few photos taken in recent times. I went to a market where they had a childrens’ farm animals display, which is where I took the first few.
This is on a friend’s property..
One of my favourite big grey girl……I was playing with a new lens…
Texture Tuesday……
This week we could choose our subject, but needed to use Kim Klassen’s texture called “Happy Heart”.
I went with a friend to the Daylesford Lake today, to take photos and this Black Swan was one of them. Other Textures used were “Blue Bayou” and “Cool Grunge”.
A whiter shade of pale..
Texture Tuesday this week needed to use at least one of Kim’s textures, and be based on the colour white – which really isn’t a colour at all if one gets technical.
G.K. Chesterton said “White is not a mere absence of colour: it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as definite as black. God paints in many colours: but he never paints so gorgeously, I had almost said so gaudily, as when he paints in white.”
White is a colour used to signify purity, virtue, innocence, and peace. In many countries it is used to signify death, mourning or rebirth. It has been used to denote political sides for centuries for example the White Rose of York in the Wars of the Roses, and in Russia at the time of the revolution, White Russians were supporters of the Tsar. It has often been used to signify good (white) versus bad (black) – even in such things as the early cowboy movies. Remember the goodies wore white hats, and the outlaws all had black ones? Then of course, there are totally white gardens, Sissinghurst in Kent was developed by author and gardener, Vita Sackville -West with her husband Harold Nicolson in the 1930′s was probably the first one, but it started a fashion which continues today.
Anyway, enough of my babble……..here are my images for this week. All using at least two textures from Kim Klassen, using various blending modes and levels of opacity.
Storyboards…
This week’s assignment was to capture moments in time, or to make a story board with a number of photos – a collage really, but using a new method and a template she had provided. We were also directed to the blog of English photographer Xanthe Berkeley who does the most entrancing photo/video clips and storyboards, capturing moments and connections, mostly about simple things – her family, her day to day routines, events and outings, accompanied by music. They are well worth a look.
I went to Daylesford Market this morning, specifically to take photos, and to try to overcome my reluctance to take pictures of strangers…I did ask permission in most instances, and folk were happy to cooperate – none the less, I felt more comfortable shooting from a distance..
Here are my results….
Then I did one using some images taken in the garden….
This is what I was supposed to do……
Photos taken on the move……blurring and out of focus intentionally. I actually found this quite difficult and different to my usual very precise techniques.
Oops!
Remember when doing exams, the teacher always said to read the question carefully? Well, I went out to take photos for the first Silly Photo Light assignment, and I failed!! We were supposed to keep moving while we took them, and not stop to compose our pictures…which I did…I had not read the instruction sheet properly, so mine are not what was needed. I had a great time though – I deliberately went somewhere I had not been, and took a heap of shots…..pity I shall have to do them again. Anyway, I was pleased with these images, they are a bit different from my usual ones, so shall post them here anyway….
Out and About
Since my knee surgery at the beginning of the month, I have not been able to do as much photography as usual, but a couple of days ago I was taken for a drive to an area west of here, along dirt roads and through small villages which had seen better days. These were all taken through the car window, none of them are brilliant, but it was so good to be behind a camera again.
